Plastic fuel tanks

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by uplander, Dec 16, 2017.

  1. DougA

    DougA Road Train Member

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    In the old days of 73280,most big linehaul fleets used air starters,mainly for weightsavings. The airstarter itself,is relatively small,weighs a fraction of what a heavy 24 volt electric starter does. The tractor also didn't have to carry a bunch of 6 volt batteries,a parallel switch,and a ton of copper cables. Just one good battery and alternator for lights. Plus if you ran low on air for the starter,it was pretty easy to get a glad hand blowjob from another rig,to get your truck started. Every little bit of weight savings counted.
     
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  3. cnsper

    cnsper Road Train Member

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    I actually looked at a truck and trailer a guy was advertising. Air start a nd the trailer was all steel, even the deck. The guy was a pot farmer and I think he sampled the product because he wanted 10k for it and there was only one drive axle, the other was a dummy.
     
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  4. Jazz1

    Jazz1 Road Train Member

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    Plastic fuel tanks are common on pickup trucks, possibly cars but likely used as cost savings as they are not any lighter than metal tank.
     
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  5. buzzarddriver

    buzzarddriver Road Train Member

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    My 2000 Ford Ranger has a resin fuel tank. It is not plastic. The two pieces, upper and lower, are ultrasonically fused together. In 2009, i had to install a new tank because the seal at the front of the tank split open in one small spot. The Ford dealer said there was no way to close the split, and i tried several methods, but none worked. Ended up getting a junkyard tank as a replacement.
     
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  6. DougA

    DougA Road Train Member

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    That was another way big fleets saved weight,not a lot of full screws. Single drive,and a lift axle,saves a lot of weight.
    When I was first out of school,I worked for an IH factory truck shop.One of our customers was Esso Oil (now Exxon). They specced their new trucks ultra light. Short nosed conventional Transtar 400 Emeryville day cabs,aluminum frame,wheels and tanks. 6V71 Detroit,9 speed,fixed fifth wheel,single drive and lift axle,air start. Very spartan interior,didn't even have a passenger seat,ashtray,or lighter in the cab.They knew exactly how many gallons of fuel they had to haul legally each trip,and specced the truck for it.
     
    Last edited: Dec 17, 2017
  7. Blackshack46

    Blackshack46 Road Train Member

    All that spec'n and all it takes is for a driver to bring one extra loaded burrito and bam! Overweight.
     
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  8. aussiejosh

    aussiejosh Road Train Member

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    Might work for petrol not for diesel.
     
  9. Banker

    Banker Road Train Member

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    When it got really cold and the trucks set all weekend, on Monday morning we would often have to air up the brakes and drag them around the terminal yard to pull start them. It often was quicker than using the air starter being supplied from a running truck.
     
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  10. DougA

    DougA Road Train Member

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    Were you with CF?
     
  11. Banker

    Banker Road Train Member

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    Yes. It was my first trucking job. I peddled a lot of freight out of those old cab over road tractors. It was a great job at the time.
     
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